Hyundai i20

Face it. We are more open to making new choices when it comes to selecting a car that might look like KG lunch box or a small tote, as long as we can slid into it comfortably and it takes us to work place hassle free. And, automobile manufacturers have taken a note of it and coming up with smaller yet smarter and brighter cars that are friendly to the choked roads. Lets check out the buzz with the Hyundai i20 launch.

The new kid, i20, a 5-door hatchback from the Hyundai Motors debuted first during the Paris Motor Show last year. Quite similar to its foregoer i10, Hyundai i20 get its manufacturing done here in India and will then be exported to other places. However, i20 was designed in Europe and was also developed there. It comes with Hyundai’s 5-year warranty for mileage, and with this Hyundai believes that i20 will be able to meet the expectations of European market and will thrive the competition present within the mini car segment, especially in India that its positioned against the Swift and also the Fabia. But more than Fabia, Maruthi Swift will be the one that it’s going to compete in terms of market.

The i20 is longer, wider as well as lower than its predecessor Getz and rides on an expanded wheelbase of 2525mm. The interior architecture seems enhanced and much improvised over Getz and the looks are loveable, and it certainly appeals stronger than a Maruthi Swift, although, I felt it could have been designed to look even better. The cabin is silent and i20 has features of a premium luxury Sedan and will certainly appeal the upwardly mobile working class of India.

In India i20 is launched with 3 versions namely Hyundai i20 Asta, Hyundai i20 Asta (O), Hyundai i20 Magna. And the difference between i20 Asta and the i20 Asta(O) lies in that the latter comes with side as well as curtain airbags, and let me tell you, it will be the first of its kind in India for this segment of cars.

The engine is 1197cc Kappa petrol type delivering max power of about 79 Bhp and a torque of 110 Nm. In fact, Hyundai admits that it’s going to come with a CRDi version soon within the first half of 2009.

Wondering what a Kappa engine is? Well, the engine is trendy and engine is tweaked to release low emissions and give an envious fuel economy. Indeed the CO2 rating of i20 is about 124 g/km and this is less by about 15g relative to same-sized petrol engines. The car clocked 12.9 seconds for 0-60 speed. Differential gear ratios makes it excellent one for urban roads, although, I am not sure how it’d perform on the highways.

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